'Jimmy Lai has case to answer in intimidation trial' says May Chung

HONG KONG: Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, who was arrested earlier this month over alleged collusion with foreign forces, has a case to answer for allegedly intimidating a reporter three years ago, a city court ruled.

On Monday, Magistrate May Chung ruled the prosecution had established sufficient evidence to prosecute the Apple Daily founder after three days of trial at the West Kowloon Court, reports the South China Morning Post newspaper.

Lai, 72, has denied criminal intimidation over the exchange with the Oriental Daily reporter during the annual candlelight vigil at Victoria Park on June 4, 2017, commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.

The reporter testified on the first day of the trial on August 20 that he felt threatened when Lai cursed him, and said he would get someone to "mess with" him, after the he took pictures and video of the media mogul during the event.

The reporter said he had suffered from adjustment disorder, a condition stemming from stressful events, and depression because of the incident.

Lai's lawyers have challenged the reporter's credibility, and suggested he and his company used the incident as an opportunity to "make life difficult" for the media tycoon. (IANS)

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